Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife short film Dust to Dreams, directed by Idris Elba, has been officially selected for the 8th edition of the Joburg Film Festival (JFF), scheduled to take place from March 3 to March 8, 2026, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The film will screen under the festival’s 2026 theme, “Feel the Frame,” which highlights cinema as a multisensory experience that blends image, sound, and emotion. Its inclusion places Dust to Dreams among a curated lineup of African and international titles at a festival increasingly recognised on the global circuit.
Set in Lagos, Dust to Dreams explores themes of legacy, memory, and reconciliation. The story centres on a dying nightclub owner who leaves her club to her reserved daughter, triggering the return of an estranged former-soldier father and long-buried family tensions. Music ultimately becomes the bridge that reconnects them.
The film premiered on EbonyLife ON Plus on November 14 and previously screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival. Its Joburg selection continues its strong festival run.
British-Nigerian singer Seal leads the cast alongside Nse Ikpe-Etim, Eku Edewor, Atlanta Bridget Johnson, and Constance Olatunde.
Now in its eighth year, the Joburg Film Festival—held across venues in Rosebank and Sandton has grown into one of Africa’s leading international showcases, positioning African cinema within a wider global conversation.
